A new programme to restore and conserve the Mau Forest has been rolled out with the goal of restoring and protecting its vital ecosystem.
The ten-year 'Mau Forest Complex Integrated Conservation Programme' spearheaded by the State Department for Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources is said to build upon previous initiatives and focuses on community engagement, public-private collaboration and scientific planning.
The initiative that incorporates the County Governments of Nakuru, Kericho, Narok and Bomet; the Kenya Forest Service (KFS); Water Resources Authority (WRA); World Resources Institute (WRI); World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS); and other stakeholders aims to address threats like deforestation, encroachment, and unsustainable practices, ensuring long-term health for Kenya's largest water tower and its surrounding communities.
Speaking when he hosted a delegation from the State Department for Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources, alongside representatives from various county and national government agencies to deliberate on the rollout of the Conservation Programme, Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones said the strategy will include reforestation, community engagement, and promotion of sustainable livelihoods like beekeeping to reduce reliance on forest resources.
